Regenerating natural aquatic resources in mountainous areas

Thanh Hoa Department of Sea, Islands and Fisheries cooperated with Ba Thuoc district to release fish to restore the environment in the Ba Thuoc II hydropower reservoir.

Head of the Thanh Hoa Department of Sea, Islands and Fisheries Nguyen Xuan Dong said: In order to regenerate aquatic resources in the province in general, and mountainous areas in particular, in recent years, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has directed the Department of Fisheries (now the Thanh Hoa Department of Sea, Islands and Fisheries) to coordinate with mountainous districts to carry out a program of releasing suitable aquatic species into hydroelectric lakes and reservoirs with freshwater fish species such as grass carp, bighead carp, silver carp, common carp, and catfish... These are lakes with large water surface areas and natural conditions suitable for traditional freshwater fish species to develop and grow. According to statistics from the Thanh Hoa Department of Sea, Islands and Fisheries in the period of 2022-2024, the unit has coordinated with localities in mountainous areas to release 11,600 kg of freshwater fish species, including grass carp, bighead carp, bighead carp, and common carp; 12,000 catfish fry were transferred to the areas of Ba Thuoc I and Ba Thuoc II hydroelectric reservoirs, Cua Dat irrigation-hydroelectric reservoir, and Ma river basin through Ba Thuoc, Quan Son, Quan Hoa, and Cam Thuy districts.

Through inspection, the released aquatic species have all developed well, and have been managed and exploited reasonably by localities and people, so aquatic resources in lakes, dams, rivers, streams, coastal areas, and estuaries have recovered and increased significantly, adding to the natural population, contributing to stabilizing the ecosystem, creating livelihoods and improving people's lives. Along with that, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has coordinated with sectors and localities to promote propaganda, raise public awareness of environmental protection, protection of aquatic resources; organize training courses; print leaflets with propaganda content on regulations on protection of aquatic resources and distribute them to fishermen... From 2019 to present, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has put the Vnfishbase management system into use to update, exploit, and manage the national database on aquatic resources. Thereby, contributing to raising awareness among fishermen and communities in protecting and developing aquatic resources, creating livelihoods and increasing income for people working in fisheries and sustainably developing aquatic resources.

To effectively regenerate and safely protect natural aquatic resources in mountainous areas, in addition to people's awareness, it requires the real participation of all levels, sectors, and local authorities in preventing and handling cases of overexploitation of aquatic resources and negative behaviors affecting the environment, aiming at sustainable regeneration of aquatic species. The State needs to issue policies to encourage the development of diversified aquaculture, creating many aquaculture products, aiming at developing effective and sustainable aquaculture and exploitation. Along with that, it is necessary to annually supplement the source of seeds in natural water bodies in mountainous areas.

Article and photos: Khac Cong

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/tai-tao-nguon-loi-thuy-san-tu-nhien-o-mien-nui-249788.htm